Some of the links on this page are
affiliate links. If you buy thru them, I receive a
small commission—at no extra cost to you. This helps me provide all the free information on
this site. To learn more, read my full Disclosure Policy.

Mrs. Bryan's Choice Quilt Block Tutorial

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

Skill Level: Confident beginner

Type: 9-patch

Grid: 6x6

Our Mrs. Bryan's Choice quilt block is quite easy to make—even with its illusion of Square in a Square on point in the center—by using a simple paper pieced pattern for the Flying Geese pairs.

Construction Instructions

When pressing, first press the pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open it, pressing from the front to minimize the formation of tucks. SAs are pressed to the dark fabric unless otherwise noted.

You may want to reduce or eliminate the use of steam for pressing the paper pieced portion of the Mrs. Bryan's Choice block—it tends to curl the paper.

Step 1: Download the paper piecing pattern

To open and print the Flying Geese pairs (FGP) pattern, you need the Adobe Reader installed
on your computer. You can get it here (a new window opens
so you can download without leaving this page). Follow their download instructions.

Choose a Finished Block Size from the chart below.

To print the pattern, locate the row called 'Flying Geese pairs'. Find the underlined number at the intersection of this row and column . For our 6" finished Mrs. Bryan's Choice quilt block, it's 2". Click here if you're having trouble finding it.

Select the underlined number at the intersection and open it in Adobe.

Step 3: Assemble the Mrs. Bryan's Choice subunits

Reduce your stitch length to 15-20 stitches per inch. Install your open toe applique foot if you have one. It makes it easier to see the stitching lines.

These FGP are also known as the Arrowhead quilt block. For more detailed instructions to make this unit, click here.

Cut the 4 units from the page(s) you downloaded in Step 1. A rough cut will do, just cut outside the dotted line that marks the unfinished side of each block. You will trim in the last step.

With a just a dab of Elmer's Glue Stick—the one that goes on purple and dries clear—position #1 on the unprinted side of your paper pattern as shown below. Use the dashed lines to help position it.

Postion patch #1 using the dashed placement lines as guides

With right sides together (RST) position a #2, matching its long bias side to either the left or right short side of #1. While it doesn't matter which goes first, try to be consistent. It's much easier to get a comfortable piecing rhythm going when you do.

Stitch starting before and ending after the solid line between #1 and #2.

I start my stitching on a piece of scrap fabric—finding there's less chance of my sewing machine 'eating' the corners. My open toe applique foot is installed.

Press.

Add the second #2 in the same manner to the other side. Press.

With RST position the #3 triangle so that it's long edge is a 1/4" away from the stitching line between it and the #2 patches. (You can also trim this seam allowance to a quarter inch first and then position #3 as is shown on the Arrowhead quilt block instructions page.)

Stitch starting and stopping several stitches before and after the line.

The red arrow points to the edge of #3; the black arrow to the stitching line between #3 and #1/#2.

Straighten the short edge of the strip-set. From the cutting chart locate the 'Subcut StripSet #5/#6' row and find its intersection with the Finished Size column. For our 6" sample it's 1-1/2". Click here to see it.

Using this measurement, subcut the strip-set into four units.

For symmetrical corners, stitch two with the dark square on the bottom right, and two on the bottom left. SA are pressed toward the light #7 rectangle.

Step 4: Assemble the Mrs. Bryan's Choice quilt block

Lay out the pieced units and center square. The FGPs point to the outside edge. The long edge of the #7 patches is on top and bottom in this picture. Just be consistent in their layout. (i.e. In the finished block further down they are shown on the left and right sides.)

Stitch the units into rows.

Press with the SA in the direction of the arrows.

Seam allowances are pressed away from the FGPs

Stitch the rows together. The seam allowance nests to make matching easier. Use pins if needed.